WWII – War Crimes

War Crimes During WWII, brutal crimes were committed against the innocent by all countries involved in war Millions of innocent people were killed by random bombing, genocide, and discrimination

Bataan Death March American POWs suffered brutal treatment by the Japanese after the surrender of the Philippines in Forced to march through jungle without food or water The treatment of POW’s in the Pacific war reflected the savagery of the fighting

Holocaust

Holocaust Genocide: The systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or cultural group Final solution: Hitler’s decision to exterminate all Jews Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps to be killed

Holocaust Holocaust victims: 11 million total –Jews (6 million) –Poles –Slavs –Gypsies –“Undesirables” (homosexuals, mentally ill, political dissidents)

Nuremburg Trials Nazi leaders and others were convicted of war crimes Emphasized individual responsibility for actions during a war, regardless of orders received Led to increased demand for a Jewish homeland

Japanese Internment Japanese Americans were sent to camps (prison) during the war

Reasons for Internment Strong anti-Japanese prejudice on the West Coast False belief that Japanese Americans were aiding the enemy

Internment Japanese sued gov’t for violating their civil rights Supreme Court Case of Korematsu vs United States ruled US did not violate Japanese civil rights

Internment A public apology was eventually issued by the U.S. government in 1980’s. Financial restitution was made to survivors

Geneva Convention Meeting in Switzerland to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners of war by establishing rules to be followed by all nations “The conduct of war often reflects social and moral codes of a nation “ Set up the rules of war for future wars